A client who is taking methylprednisolone reports feeling thirsty. Which action should the nurse take first?

Monitor urinary output.

Notify the healthcare provider (HCP).

Prepare to give insulin.

Obtain fingerstick blood glucose.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Monitor urinary output: While monitoring output is important, it does not provide immediate diagnostic information regarding the cause of the client’s thirst. It is a supportive action but not the most efficient first step to investigate potential hyperglycemia.

B. Notify the healthcare provider (HCP): Notifying the HCP is appropriate if there are abnormal findings or the client’s condition worsens. However, the nurse should gather objective data—such as a blood glucose reading—before contacting the provider.

C. Prepare to give insulin: Insulin should not be administered without confirmation of elevated blood glucose. Giving insulin without verifying hyperglycemia could lead to serious complications, including hypoglycemia.

D. Obtain fingerstick blood glucose: Methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid, can raise blood glucose levels, and excessive thirst is a classic symptom of hyperglycemia. Checking the client’s blood glucose is the most appropriate first action to determine if elevated glucose is causing the symptom.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Avoid driving or operating machinery: Drowsiness and dizziness can occur with atenolol, especially when initiating therapy, but these effects are usually mild. While it's reasonable to use caution initially, this is not the most critical teaching point compared to orthostatic safety.

B. Take a missed dose as soon as possible: Although this may seem helpful, patients should not double doses or take extra doses close together. If a significant amount of time has passed, the missed dose may need to be skipped to prevent bradycardia or hypotension.

C. Standing slowly when getting up from bed: Atenolol, a beta-blocker, can cause orthostatic hypotension, especially in older adults. Teaching the client to rise slowly helps reduce the risk of dizziness and falls, making this a high-priority safety instruction following discharge.

D. Avoid intake of alcoholic beverages: Alcohol may enhance the hypotensive effects of beta-blockers, but moderate consumption is not strictly contraindicated. This advice is relevant but less urgent than preventing injury from orthostatic hypotension.

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"C","dropdown-group-2":"A","dropdown-group-3":"D"}

Explanation

0845: The peak action of insulin lispro occurs about 1 to 2 hours after injection. Since it was administered at 0745, the nurse should expect a peak effect beginning around 0845, when the insulin will have its strongest blood glucose-lowering action.

0745: 0745 is the time when the insulin lispro was administered, not when it starts working. Since lispro usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes to begin acting, 0745 is too early to expect therapeutic action.

0815: Lispro insulin begins to work approximately 15 to 30 minutes after subcutaneous administration. Since it was given at 0745, the nurse should expect it to start lowering blood glucose around 0815, consistent with its pharmacologic profile.

0915: Given that insulin lispro peaks 1 to 2 hours after administration, the later part of the peak window would occur around 0915. This timing ensures the nurse monitors for potential hypoglycemia at the height of insulin activity.

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A client who is taking methylprednisolone reports feeling thirsty. Which action should the nurse take first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

An older adult client is being discharged after a myocardial infarction (MI) and receives a new prescription for atenolol. Which instruction is most important for the nurse to include in this client's teaching plan?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Patient Data Exhibits Choose the most likely options for the information missing from the statement(s) by selecting from the lists of options provided. The nurse should expect for the insulin lispro to start working at dropdown and to peak at dropdown to dropdown

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"C","dropdown-group-2":"A","dropdown-group-3":"D"}

Explanation

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